Flexible sled.



R. A. LESLIE.

FLEXIBLE SLED. APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. s, 1911.

1,031,277. Patented July 2, 1912.

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RALPH A. LESLIE, OF MERRIMACK, MASSACHUSETTS.

FLEXIBLE SLED.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 2, 1912.

Application filed September 8, 1911. Serial No. 648,335.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1", RALPH AaLnsLIn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Merrimack, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Flexible Sleds, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in sleds and particularly to that class of sleds which are adapted to be steered by bending, or flexing the runners to one side or the other. Prior to my invention devices of this character have been produced, but, so far as I am aware, said devices have been so constructed that, when the front end portions of the runners have been flexed to steer the sled, they will be carried out of line with the rear portions thereof, causing them to drag to an extent, and thus diminishing the speed of the sled.

The object of my invention is to provide a form of sled of the above described character, in which the runners will be bent approximately on an arc of a circle, when they are flexed to steer the sled, so that the curve of the runners and the direction of the path of the sled will be approximately the same, and the smallest possible amount of momentum will be lost in steering the sled.

A. further object of my invention is to provide a sled of the above described character, which will be of simple and durable construction.

For an understanding of the means which I employ in carrying out, my invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a sled made'according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a side view thereof. Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view thereof. Fig. 4 is a view of a modified form of my invent-ion. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the runner-holding bracket.

In the drawing a indicates the top, and b the sides of a sled, provided with my inven tion, said sides extending approximately the length of the main portion of the top, and preferably being made of wood, or other rigid material. The top is provided with an extension a, which extends forwardly at the middle and which is suitably braced by an angle-bar 0. A foot-lever (Z is mounted on a pivot c, in the front end of the extension at, and said lever (Z is provided with an arm f, which is rigidly secured thereto and extends perpendicularly forward therefrom. The runners g are connected to the rear end of the sides 6, by pivot-bolts 7L, and said runners are extended forwardly and upwardly at the front end, and then rearwardly, where they are connected by pivots 2' to the front end of the sides by brackets A cross-bar 7c is connected to each runner adjacent the points where they are bent rearwardly, and the arm f is loosely coi1- nected thereto. A bracket or socket m is connected to the under sides of each of the sides 5, at the front ends thereof, each bracket being extended forwardly a short distance therefrom, and being provided with a slot m in the extended portion thereof through which a lug, or pivot g, on each runner, extends, said pivots being loosely held in said slot, in pivotal alinement with the bolts 2'. The brackets m and j are identical in construction, as the same loose con nection between the bolts 2' and brackets is necessary as between the pivots g and the brackets m.

In operation the lever (Z is turned in either direction, swinging the arm therewith, causing the cross-bar 7a to be pushed longitudinally in a corresponding direction, bending the front end portions of the runners to one side. This movement causes each runner to be swung on its pivots g, and causes the portions between said pivots g and the rear end connecting pivots h to be bowed, one inwardly and the other outwardly, as shown in Fig. 3. This causes each runner to assume a curve corresponding to the are of a circle, so that there will be quite as much tendency to steer the sled in a curve, caused by the position of the runners in the rear of the pivots g, as there is by the portion in the front. The bending of the portions of the runners between the pivots g and it causes the pivots to be drawn rearwardly, and this movement is permitted by the slots, or elongated sockets m in the brackets m. This swinging action also causes the runners to swing to a slight extent on their pivots h and 2', freedom of action being permitted thereby, the pivots i being drawn rearwardly the same as the pivots g. The bearing portions of the runners are thus curved, throughout their entire length, corresponding to the direction in which the sled is steered, so the runners do not drag, and but little loss of momentum in steering is caused. Moreover, the runners do not have to be flexed to as great an extent to steer the sled as where the flexing is only at the front end of the runner.

In Fig. at is shown a slight modification, in which the runners g are terminated at the cross-bar 70, instead of being extended back to the body. This construction is less expensive, but not as desirable as that already described.

I claim 1. A sled comprising a body having a pair of normally straight, flexible runners extending throughout the length thereof, connected at their ends thereto, and having an intermediate, vertically extending pivotal posed to engage the front ends of the runners and flex the portions thereof in front of said pivotal connections in one direction and the portions in the rear thereof in the opposite direction, substantially as described.

8. A sled comprising a body having a pairof normally straight-,flexible runners, each connected-thereto at their ends, a vertically disposed pivot on each runner loosely en a in the bod to ermit lateral moveg e 2: Y, P

ment thereof longitudinally of the body, and means engaging the runner portion in front of said pivots for laterally flexing said portions and causing opposite flexing of portions in the rear of the pivots, substantially as described.

4. A sled comprising a body having a pair of normally straight, flexible runners, each connected thereto at their ends and having a socket arranged over an intermediate port-ion of each runner, a vertically disposed pivot on each runner engaging said sockets and movable therein longitudinally of the body, and means engaging the runner portions in front of the pivots for laterally flexing said portions, substantially as described.

5. A sled comprising a body, a pair of normally straight, flexible runners, pivotally connected at their rear ends to the rear end of said body, a vertically disposed lug mounted on an intermediate portion of each runner and pivot-ally engaging the frontend of said body, the portion of said runners in front of said pivots extending forwardly therefrom, and having means connected thereto and to the front end of the body for laterally flexing thesame, substantially as described.

6. A sled comprising a body, a pair of normally straight, flexible runners, pivotally connected at their rear ends to the rear end of said body, a vertically disposed lug mounted on an intermediate portion of each runner and pivot-ally engaging the front end of said body, the portion of said runners in front of said pivots extending forwardly therefrom, and rearwardly to the body and having means for connecting the same thereto, and means for laterally flexing said forwardly and rearwardly ext-ending portions of the-runner in front of said lugs, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

RALPH A. LESLIE.

Witnesses:

FERNANDO L. JENKINS,

FRANK N. RAND.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington,-D. G. 

